Societal Disruption as a Disaster

Abstract

Introduction:

This research aims to review the impact of drug addiction, domestic violence and suicide in Australia through the lens of disaster risk reduction. This study explores whether drug addiction, domestic violence and suicide can be considered as disasters according to established thresholds and definitions; and whether contemporary health emergency and disaster risk management (HEDRM) practice can be adapted to support action to reduce the impact of these events and inform disaster risk reduction.

Method:

A literature review was conducted to explore drug addiction, domestic violence and suicide as societal disruptions causing disasters. Key Australian government reports describing deaths associated with suicide, domestic violence and drug addiction were identified, following which a constrained snowball sampling was applied to the bibliography of each document to gather further key articles and inform the evolution of the impact of these themes in Australia over the period 2000-2018. The search strategy included both peer reviewed and grey literature. We used the search terms ‘social disruption’, 'non-traditional', ‘drug addiction’, ‘domestic violence, ‘suicide’ and 'societal disruption' as key words and included articles if they demonstrated an analysis of the theme related to health impact related to disaster settings.

Results:

Utilizing the Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub and the international CRED criteria for a disaster, the impact on human health of drug addiction, domestic violence, and suicide upon the Australian population each meet the criteria of a disaster.

Conclusion:

Public health practice through the lens of the determinants of social disruption combined with activities that consider hazards, vulnerability, and exposure, can institute prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery programs to reduce the impact of drug addiction, domestic violence, and suicide.